Denel seeking to manufacture ventilators
State-owned defence and technology manufacturer Denel is confident that it will soon be able to produce medical ventilators.
The state arms manufacturer hopes to take advantage of the global shortage in ventilators due to the spread of coronavirus by producing the equipment locally.
The virus has so far killed 11 people in South Africa while 1655 others have tested positive.
Denel's Group Chief Executive Danie du Toit says engineers from Denel Dynamics and Denel Aeronautics are already working round the clock with other state-owned entities, research bodies and medical technology companies.
"We are still in the early stages of the project, but we are optimistic that this local initiative will help to alleviate the dire need for medical ventilators that are required in great numbers at both public and private hospitals.”
Du Toit adds the state defence and technology manufacturer, is also considering other initiatives in which it can repurpose its current operations and technology to assist the national efforts.
"A task team has been formed consisting of experts from Denel, Armscor, Eskom, the CSIR and other entities to investigate designs and produce a prototype of a local medical ventilator," says Du Toit.